A BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 978, 18 July 1882, Page 3

A BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.

A breach of promise case (Dods v. Wollett) was recently heard in London. The petitioner, Miss Alice Dods, sought to recover damages for a breach of promise. The defendant originally pleaded that he was an infaat, and that lis had been discharged from his promise, but the defence was now withdrawn. The plaintiff was sUted to be a young lady residing at Brixton. She had lost her mother, while her father was in a lunatic asylum. The defendant was an officer in the Militia, and he became acquainted with the plaintiff. After a short acquaintance he proposed marriage to her, and was accepted. It was stated that he was looking forward to a commiision in the army, and ultimately he obtained a commission in the 27th Regiment, and was ordered to juin his regiment at Hong KoDg. He had promised to marry the plaintiff and take her with him, He went to St Savi©ur'B Church, Brixton, but found that they could not be married there because neither of them resided in the district. He then tried to get married at Lewisham, but the vessel was to sail before the marriage could be celebrated. The defendant had to depart to Hong Kong, but from that place he wrote affectionate letters to her. Suddenly the correspondence ceased, and at length the plaintiff heard that the defendant had married another woman. He wa» now a lieutenant in the 108th Regiment, and was (stationed at Enniskillen, in Ireland. Miss Dods, the plaintiff, was called, and said that the parents of the defendant approved of the marriage. His father was a surveyor. Her father had been a cltrk in the Custom House. She had au allowance of £IOO a year. The defendant wrote to her on November 12th, 1877, the letter commencing, " My own darling old Alice." He signed himselt, "Believe me to remain till death, your most loving and affectionate Charley." Later on he again wrote to her, and said, " I picture to myself my little home, and can imagnc my duck at the window waiting for her darling." (Laughter.) hi that letter he inscribed himself, "Everyour own loving Charley.' 1 She corroborated the opening statement of counsel as to the defendant going to Hong Kong without fulfilling his promise to marry her. From Hong Kong he wrote to her. In one of the letters he said, " I shall be very glad to get home to my own girl. E am very unhappy away from you, and long to get home to my little pet." '' As you read this," he said in one of his letters, '' carling, try and fancy that I have my arms around your neck and telling you this myself, with kisses, dear." (Laughter.) She had now heard that he was married. In the course of the case a discussion arose as to the defendant's pay, whereupon the father of the defendant came forward and said he believed his son's pay was 0s Cd per day, and that he had no means besides this. By his wife he had no money, and had married her without the knowledge of witness. In the result the jury returned a verdict for the plain- \ tiff for £2OO,